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IHT Quick Read: June 19

Taliban officials cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony of a political office in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday.Credit European Pressphoto Agency

NEWS The Taliban signaled a breakthrough in efforts to start Afghan peace negotiations on Tuesday, announcing the opening of a political office in Qatar and a new readiness to talk with American and Afghan officials, who said in turn that they would travel to meet insurgent negotiators there within days. Matthew Rosenberg reports from Washington and Alissa Rubin from Kabul.

President Barack Obama plans to use a speech in Berlin on Wednesday to outline plans for further reductions in the American nuclear arsenal if Russia agrees to pare back its weapons at the same time, administration officials said Tuesday. Peter Baker and David E. Sanger report from Washington.

Shaken by the biggest challenge to their authority in years, Brazil’s leaders made conciliatory gestures on Tuesday to try to defuse the protests engulfing the nation’s cities. But the demonstrators remained defiant, pouring into the streets by the thousands and venting their anger over political corruption, the high cost of living and huge public spending for the World Cup and the Olympics. Simon Romero reports from São Paulo.

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Ben Bernanke has led the Fed since 2006, “a lot longer than he wanted or he was supposed to,” according to President Obama.Credit Richard Drew/Associated Press

British lawmakers are calling for criminal prosecutions of senior bankers who cause the collapse of financial institutions, as Parliament is set to undertake a major overhaul of the country’s banking sector. Mark Scott reports from London.

A new generation of entrepreneurs is finding innovative ways of using information technology to make more efficient use of energy and other resources. Beth Gardiner reports from London.

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Siân Davies and Darren Jeffery in the Garsington Opera's production of "Maometto Secondo."Credit Mike Hoban